Broadway Discussion Series: Wicked

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potterrules93
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Post by potterrules93 »

so i can assume that you saw the touring cast of wicked? i am seeing it on feburary 17 in cleveland=] ant wait
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Post by Enchantress »

For anyone who remembers me, I've not been here for a good few months! I just popped back tonight whilst I had some free time on the internet, and this thread caught my eye.

I just saw Wicked for the second time in London, featuring Kerry Ellis and Dianne Pilkington. I saw it in August, then booked another holiday to London soon after returning. I love everything about it, the music, the songs and of course, the characters.

To put it bluntly, I love Wicked, both the book and the musical but for different reasons. As for the actress playing Elphaba, I think Kerry Ellis is absolutely amazing, and I wont have a bad word said about her hehe :D.

The friend I went down with told me we could wait outside the stage door and meet the cast briefly, I didn't want to be a bother, but he assured me they appreciate the fans waiting outside.

We did wait outside, and I met the three main actors, Fiyero, Glinda and of course Elphaba. Kindly, all three said we could have pictures taken with them, I felt like a child!

I only got back a few days ago so I'm still in the Wicked bubble, so forgive me if I've gone on, but if you did read to the bottom of this, thank you! :D
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PeterPanfan
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Post by PeterPanfan »

Our school's jazz band is going to see Wicked on May 7 on Broadway! (I'm obviously in it, because if I wasn't I wouldn't be posting this because I'd be too depressed that I wasn't going)

May cannot come soon enough and I can't wait! I know the words to pretty much all the songs, and my favorites are:

Defying Gravity
The Wizard and I
Popular
Dancing Through Life
What is This Feeling?

I'm very sad I'm not seeing Idina Menzel or Kristin Chenoweth, but I am seeing Stephanie J. Block and Analeigh Ashford! :D

I plan on buying tons of souverneirs!

I'm so ecstatic!!!!!!! :D
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Post by Simba3 »

That is really exciting, PeterPanfan! You are going to LOVE this musical. I saw the tour in Michigan last summer and it was so great. I hope this musical is all that you hoped it is. And let me tell you, watch out for "For Good", it is one of my favorite songs in the musical.
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Post by PeterPanfan »

I already LOVE "For Good"! haha.

And I just found out AMAZING news!!

KENDRA KASSEBAUM WILL BE GALINDA WHEN I'M THERE! Not Anaeligh Ashford, Kendra! I love Kendera! :D

Thanks, Simba!
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Kerry Ellis in Broadway's Wicked?

Post by Disney Duster »

Does that mean you're also seeing Kerry Ellis, as Elphaba? Because every single video I've seen of her she is awesome. No, she has a really good voice and sings beautifully and incredibly and powerfully. She's from the London production, but she's going to Broadway for a bit, and she sings with an American accent. Will see if she speaks that way for the Great White Way. I think she'e better than Idina Menzel, and she certainly sounds better than Idina on recordings (Idina has not sounded up to snuff on many videos).
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Post by PeterPanfan »

I think SJB will be there, but don't quote me.

So if Kerry Ellis was there, would she speak with an American accent, or an English one?
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Post by Disney Duster »

PeterPanfan wrote:I think SJB will be there, but don't quote me.

So if Kerry Ellis was there, would she speak with an American accent, or an English one?
Ew Stephanie J. Block. Well, I herad one video of her where I liked her. But only one. I prefer Kerry. And the power in Kerry's voice in undeniable. But that's exactly what I was wondering, will she just sing with an American acent or also speak like that? And that, my friend, I don't know. I would think she would, and it would show off her acting chops. Of course Idina didn't use an accent at all when she went to London, but she's the original Elphie and has leeway and I bet fans wanted her to sing exactly like she did on Broadway (well, except maybe better...from what I've watched).

Let's figure out if Kerry will be there. When are you going?:
Ellis will play her final performance at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre June 7; she will begin her New York run as the not-so-wicked green-faced witch June 17. Following her Broadway run, Ellis is scheduled to return to the London production.
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Post by PeterPanfan »

I'm going May 7, so I guess SJB will be there, who I don't mind.

Why do you dislike her, Disney Duster?
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Post by Disney Duster »

Nooooooooooo you have Stinky...I mean Stephanie noooooooo.

Well, she sounds too...mature, for the part. Yes, Elphaba is more mature than Galinda and a more mature college student than anyone, but Stephanie makes her sound like an adult, and not really a young one. Maybe she can be adult in Act II, maybe that works. Also, she almost has an accent, like British or Irish! At least one other person I read said it's funny how the British Kerry Ellis sounds less British while singing than Stephanie J. Block does! And I don't like her vibrato. And I don't know what it's called, it's like her voice goes out or something. Like during 'Everyone deserves..." the "everyone" doesn't pop, it's like it's flat but I don't know if that's what it's called because I think singing without vibrato is singing flat and other Elphabas sing "everyone" without vibrato and it's wonderful. Granted perhaps her voice "goes out" because she's been singing at the top of her lungs for so long, but I know I don't like her in what people consider her best videos. It just sounds like she's screaming, and Idina was accused of that, too, but Idina just sounds better.

I just prefer Kerry, Idina, and Eden Espinosa so much more.
Last edited by Disney Duster on Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by PeterPanfan »

Idina is and always will be the best Elphaba, but Steph was Elphaba during the original workshops, which means she must have talent.

I really want to compare every Broadway Elphie, does anyone have audio they could post here or send me?

And I also want to discuss the book/musical points.

Like, does anyone prefer the book over the musical? Vice versa? I am currentley reading the book, and am on about page 120. I'm enjoying it, but I already know I'm going to like the musical more. :P

And is anyone mad about the changes from book to musical? I like to look at them like seperate pieces, although a part of me wants to compare them, lol.

Have you read the book, Disney Duster? if you have, did you enjoy it? Did you read the sequel? Do you plan on reading the third book?

Lol I'm sounding so weird with like a huge list of all these questions, but I'm on a serious Wicked spree and NEED to discuss it with someone.
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Post by Simba3 »

PeterPanfan wrote:Idina is and always will be the best Elphaba, but Steph was Elphaba during the original workshops, which means she must have talent.

I really want to compare every Broadway Elphie, does anyone have audio they could post here or send me?

And I also want to discuss the book/musical points.

Like, does anyone prefer the book over the musical? Vice versa? I am currentley reading the book, and am on about page 120. I'm enjoying it, but I already know I'm going to like the musical more. :P

And is anyone mad about the changes from book to musical? I like to look at them like seperate pieces, although a part of me wants to compare them, lol.

Have you read the book, Disney Duster? if you have, did you enjoy it? Did you read the sequel? Do you plan on reading the third book?

Lol I'm sounding so weird with like a huge list of all these questions, but I'm on a serious Wicked spree and NEED to discuss it with someone.
I'm not Disney Duster, but here is my take on it. I really liked both the book and the musical. I decided to read the book last summer "in preparation" of seeing the musical. I loved the book, it was a great read. Just know, going into the musical, that it is MUCH different than the book. You can certainly tell that the musical is based on the book, but I felt like the two were very different. More different than most book to movie translations.

I wouldn't say I'm mad about the changes from the book to the musical. I agree with you, I almost look at the two as if they are separate pieces.
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Post by Dottie »

Same here. Musical and book are so wildly different that they practically only share the title and the idea of the main story. I do like the musical better though because I think it is a cuter story and the book is highly political and pretty dark, but that's personal preference.
I haven't read "Son of a witch" yet, but I want to.
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Post by Disney Duster »

Well yes, PeterPanfan, of course she has talent. You can't be on Broadway without some. I guess it's just my preference. But with her voice sounding like it's going out so much, and like she's just screaming...

I would Youtube Idina Menzel, Stephanie J. Block, Eden Espinosa, Soshana Bean, and Kerry Ellis. There are more Elphabas, but usually you can find other videos of them automatically because Elphaba videos link to other Elphaba videos.

The book is inarguably more in-depth than the musical. I think it's hard to say the book isn't better than the musical, but they're too different beasts. I prefer the book. I do like some things the musical has that the book does not, but it's not enough. It diverts so much, I mean Fiyero is a completely different character, and when Galinda didn't like Fiyero at all, she and Elphaba are fighting over him in the musical. And it's so...done. It's not original. The love triangle is just a plot device added. And Elphaba never wanted so much glory for herself.

I have obviously read the book and I have read the sequel (which was not nearly as good) but I did not know of a third one. Thank you very much!
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Post by PeterPanfan »

Yes, it's called "A Cowardly War" and I believe it's coming out sometime this year. :)
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Post by xxhplinkxx »

I am so excited to say that for my Spring Break on March 22nd two of my dreams will come true:

1. I will be flying to New York for the first time in my life!!!

2. I'll be watching Wicked on BROADWAY!!!!!!!

I can't FREAKING WAIT!!!!!

I've always wanted to go to NY and watch a show, and best of all, it's Wicked!!!! I cant wait!!
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Post by PeterPanfan »

I hope you have TONS of fun! Make sure to write a review when you get back!
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Post by Pixarcarsfan24 »

I'll always wanted to go see that. From what i saw though tv commicals, It's looks interested to go see espeically in theater.
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Post by Simba3 »

xxhplinkxx wrote:I am so excited to say that for my Spring Break on March 22nd two of my dreams will come true:

1. I will be flying to New York for the first time in my life!!!

2. I'll be watching Wicked on BROADWAY!!!!!!!

I can't FREAKING WAIT!!!!!

I've always wanted to go to NY and watch a show, and best of all, it's Wicked!!!! I cant wait!!
You are going to LOVE New York City, and you are going to LOVE "Wicked" as well. Hope you have a great trip!!
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Post by Chernabog_Rocks »

Here's Dancing Through Life in two parts on youtube, thought you guys might want to watch. Camera person isn't the greatest though :P I think it's from Kristin and Leo's last night. Enjoy :)

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgxmCgt_ ... re=related

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnCYuTIKJds
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